Lateral needle injection apparatus and method

Abstract

A device and method for delivering and injecting fluid into heart tissue utilizing a laterally directed needle to increase injectate (fluid) retention in the heart tissue. The device may comprise a catheter having a shaft wherein the distal end of the shaft includes a primary penetrating member and a secondary penetrating member. The secondary penetrating member includes an injection lumen in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source. The primary penetrating member penetrates the heart tissue at the injection site in a first direction, and the secondary penetrating member penetrates the heart tissue in a second direction different from the first direction such that fluid leakage from the injection site is reduced and the volume of treated tissue is increased.

1. A catheter comprising:
 a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a wall defining at least one aperture, the distal end of the shaft including a primary penetrating member having a sharpened end and at least one secondary penetrating member having a sharpened end, wherein the primary penetrating member is adapted to penetrate tissue in a first direction, and wherein the at least one secondary penetrating member is retractable to a position within the primary penetrating member and penetrates the tissue in a second direction different from the first direction when extended from the primary penetrating member, the shaft further comprising an insert having a lumen extending in a longitudinal direction of the shaft and transitioning to a generally lateral direction adjacent the at least one aperture to direct the at least one secondary member through the at least one aperture.  
 
   
   
     2. The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue is selected from the group consisting of tumors, heart, lung, brain, liver, kidney, bladder, urethra, ureters, eye, intestines, stomach, pancreas, ovary, prostate, skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, breast, cartilage and bone. 
   
   
     3. The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one secondary penetrating member comprises microneedles. 
   
   
     4. The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the second direction is generally perpendicular to the first direction. 
   
   
     5. The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the second direction is at an angle of about 5 to about 90 degrees relative to the first direction. 
   
   
     6. A catheter system comprising:
 a pressurized fluid source including fluid therein, and  
 a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and a wall defining at least one aperture, wherein the proximal end of the catheter is connected to the pressurized fluid source, wherein the distal end of the catheter includes a primary penetrating member having a sharpened end and at least one secondary penetrating members having a sharpened end, wherein the primary penetrating member is adapted to penetrate tissue in a first direction, and wherein each of the at least one secondary penetrating members is retractable to a first position within the primary penetrating member and a second position extended from the primary penetrating member, with each of the least one secondary penetrating members having a lumen in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid source such that fluid may be delivered to the tissue via the secondary penetrating members, the shaft further comprising an insert having a lumen extending in a longitudinal direction of the shaft and transitioning to a generally lateral direction adjacent the at least one aperture to direct the at least one secondary member through the at least one aperture.  
 
   
   
     7. The catheter system of  claim 6 , wherein the secondary penetrating members penetrate the tissue in a second direction different from the first direction when extended from the primary penetrating member. 
   
   
     8. The catheter system of  claim 6 , wherein the second direction is generally perpendicular to the first direction. 
   
   
     9. The catheter system of  claim 6 , wherein the second direction is at an angle of about 5 to about 90 degrees relative to the first direction. 
   
   
     10. The catheter system of  claim 6 , wherein the tissue is selected from the group consisting of tumors, heart, lung, brain, liver, kidney, bladder, urethra, ureters, eye, intestines, stomach, pancreas, ovary, prostate, skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, breast, cartilage and bone. 
   
   
     11. The catheter system of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid comprises at least one therapeutic agent. 
   
   
     12. The catheter system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one secondary penetrating member comprises microneedles.